CONNECT JAPAN: THE CONTINUOUS CONNECTION

CONNECT JAPAN is part of a continuing series of programmes marking the close relationship shared between Japanese and Indonesian cinemas. This is analogous to JAFF’s mandate in promoting Asian cinema among Asians, especially in Indonesia. This year, we are not only offering special film screenings, but also, other activities related to as well as transcending cinema.

In the CONNECT JAPAN program, festival goers as well as guests will be given the opportunity to get acquainted with, appreciate, understand, and learn various Japanese cultures, art, and films through the activities offered over the course of a few days during the festival. Aside from that, CONNECT JAPAN also offers other creative activities to showcase the distinctive characteristic of Japanese film cultures from which Indonesia can learn.

The film screening of contemporary Japanese cinema is part of an ‘exchange program’ with Japanese Film Festival 2016 in Jakarta. In this particular program, five of the recent films directed by celebrated Japanese filmmakers will be screened, namely: Kazoku Wa Tsuraiyo (Yoji Yamada, 2016), Creepie (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2016), Chihayafuru Khami no Ku (Norihino Koizumi, 2016), Chihayafuru Shimo no Ku (Norihino Koizumi, 2016), An (Naomi Kawase, 2016), and Harmonium (Koji Fukada, 2016), a winner of Un Certain Regard at the Cannes International Film Festival 2016. Following the screening of Harmonium, there will be a discussion with the director Koji Fukada.

Moreover, there will also be screenings of Asian documentary films in collaboration with the Documentary Film Festival 2016 (FFD). For this year in particular, this program will provide a spotlight on Japanese documentary and experimental films such as, Tzukiji Wonderland (Naotaro Endo, 2016) and A Stone from Another Mountain to Polish Your Own Stone (Go Shibata, 2016).

This year, we will be collaborating with Yamaguchi Center of Art and Media (YCAM) that has been established since November 2003. The curator, Eujin Sugihara had selected important Japanese films that are not only unique, but also provide a crucial perspective in Japanese cinema. We are offering a cinematic showcase which is part of the collaboration between Papermoon Puppet Theater and Kana Ote. We will also be offering other collaborations involving Japanese sound designer Yasuhiro Morinaga (founder of sound production company and music label CONCRETE) and Indonesian filmmaker Faozan Rizal. This collaboration originated when Yasuhiro Morinaga, who was in the midst of performing for Cineconcert in the 9th JAFF, met Faozan Rizal. Last year, Faozan Rizal put forth the idea upon hearing the demolition of the historical building, the Colomadu Sugar Mill. They then agreed to record and immortalize the space. What resulted was the trilogy comprising of Anastasis, Burung Kayu di Pohon, and On Genealogy of Silent.